NA passes Elections (Amendment) bill, 2019

It was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Elections (Amendment) bill, 2019 amidst opposition’s protest against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for calling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari ‘Sahiba’ during his yesterday’s speech in South Waziristan.

The bill was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Farogh Naseem said that the federal government has been striving for inducting “friendly legislation” in the parliament next week.

During question hour in the National Assembly, he asked the opposition parties to support the government in the passage of the bills.

The law minister said that the government was committed for eradicating corruption and mischievous practices.

“The government is pursuing an agenda of accountability across the board,” he said. “The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is working as an independent institution.”

Minister for Communications Murad Saeed told the house that National Road Safety policy has been formulated in consultation with the provinces to provide better facilities to the commuters and reduce the number of traffic accidents.

He said that an effective policy would be implemented with the cooperation of the provinces. Saeed said the dualisation of Karachi Northern Pass has been planned.

He said the construction work on the project would be started by the end of this year after hiring the services of consultants and the contractor.

Responding to a question, the Minister for Communications said that repair work on G.T road from Rawalpindi to Jhelum has been started.

He assured that the revenue collected from the toll plazas would be spent on the maintenance of the highways. Saeed asserted that Sukkur-Multan section of the motorway will be made operational by August this year.

He said the government was also preparing a detailed design and commercial feasibility of Sukkur-Hyderabad (M-6) motorway to be completed on BOT basis.

He stated that the government has made available funds for the completion of Metro Bus project from Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International airport by June 30 this year.

He concluded that new services have been started in Pakistan Post to cut its losses and make it a profitable entity. “We have significantly enhanced its revenue over the last six to seven months. An agreement with NADRA has also been signed to spread the network of Pakistan Post.”

PPP demands an apology from PM Khan

As the assembly session resumed, PPP Information Secretary Nafisa Shah condemned what she claimed were misogynistic remarks made by the premier.

“This humiliation, misogyny and hatred is not against the PPP or Bilawal," she said. "This is a reflection of misogynistic thinking."

She called it ‘an insult to the women and cultural values of Pakistan’ by humiliating Bilawal by ascribing feminine qualities to him in an insulting manner.

"This respect is a part of our core values, and I ask those from the tribal areas: Is it not in your core values that you respect women?"

She said the premier to apologise for his remarks against Bilawal or otherwise, they would be forced to disregard him as the prime minister.

“Slogans of Go Imran Go will be chanted in the [Lower] House, otherwise,” she added.

Earlier, female MNAs gathered at the speaker’s dais and raised a ruckus over the premier’s remarks.

As the National Assembly session resumed today, female MNAs gathered at the speaker’s dais and raised a ruckus over the premier’s remarks.

"Unlike Bilawal sahiba, I didn’t come into politics through a chit like the last will of his mother that gave him the political party in inheritance. I founded my own party,” PM Imran Khan had said while addressing a public gathering in Wanna.